But more recently, farming on the Liverpool Plains and across the North West has become all that harder, thanks to the resources boom.

Some farmers are resorting to locking their gates to keep out prospecting miners and gas explorers, in a bid to protect their livelihoods.

They are uncertain what the future holds for a farm that sits on top of a lucrative mineral deposit.

Others have made the decision to move on, by accepting the inflated prices being paid by resources companies for their land.

But the resources surge onto farming land is now this region’s biggest issue – and the biggest for some time.

It seems a week does not go by without a meeting or a protest relating to coal mining or coal seam gas exploration.

Member for New England Tony Windsor says he wants a guarantee from the federal government that the rich and valuable farming land defined as the Liverpool Plains will be protected against mining.

His support of the minority Gillard government is dependent on the outcome.

Good on Mr Windsor for making his stand, but what one government provides, another can take away.

There will also be an argument that if the Liverpool Plains deserve protection, what about other farming land, the owners of which will deem just as valuable.

This is a complex issue. The demand for our resources will not wane, nor will the need for productive farming land.

These two issues have collided and there appears no easy way past or through.

Farming families want a secure future so they can continue their enterprises with confidence, and that is in the national interest.

It appears Australia’s abundant mineral and energy resources are becoming more valuable but we must not discount the value or the importance of farming land, which is also essential to the nation’s wellbeing.

In this region at this time, coal, gas, sapphires, diamonds, gold and other minerals are being extracted.

That list will grow as other resources are identified, and with their discovery will come more pressure on a region that is renowned as one of the most agriculturally productive parts of Australia.

Sheep, wheat, wool and cattle are being pushed aside as the appetite for resources intensifies.